IRVINE, Calif. – Chaminade University outfielder/designated hitter
Ryan Ruch (San Diego/Patrick Henry) and starting pitcher
Max Patterson (Honolulu/Olympic College/Kalani HS) are the Pacific West Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.
Patterson was also named the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) West Region Pitcher of the Week.
Ruch hit .500 (7-of-14) in helping the Silverswords take three of their four games against Hawai'i Pacific University. The freshman drove in six runs, scoring six with two homers. His .469 batting average is leading the PacWest while his 17 RBI is tied for second. Ruch is currently on a five-game hitting streak.
Patterson put on a dominant performance against HPU on Feb. 23, tossing a complete-game two-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and no walks in the 'Swords' 12-0 win in seven innings. After allowing two first-inning hits, Patterson proceeded to retire 18 of the next 19 batters he faced including, at one point, 17 straight.
Both the conference and regional weekly awards are the first for the first-year program.
The PacWest Team of the Week was Point Loma.
The Silverswords (8-9, 1-1 PacWest) will host Fresno Pacific (5-5, 1-3 PacWest) in a four-game PacWest series starting Friday at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park Baseball Complex. First pitch is 3 p.m. followed by the seven-inning second game about 30 minutes after the completion of the first.
